Co-founder of Pharmacy Involved in Meningitis Outbreak Pleads No Contest to Involuntary Manslaughter
The co-founder of a specialty pharmacy at the center of a deadly national meningitis outbreak in 2012 has pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter in Michigan, according to authorities.
Deal Imposes Concurrent Sentence
Barry Cadden, the co-founder of New England Compounding Center located in Massachusetts, will serve a prison sentence of 10 to 15 years concurrently with his existing 14 1/2-year federal sentence for fraud and other crimes, informed Attorney General Dana Nessel.
A Notorious Outbreak
New England Compounding Center was known for manufacturing specialized drugs for specific treatments and distributing them to physicians across the United States. Tragically, the outbreak linked to the pharmacy resulted in approximately 800 patients from 20 states falling ill with fungal meningitis or other infections. Shockingly, about 100 of those patients lost their lives after receiving mold-tainted steroid injections, primarily for back pain.
A Plea Deal and No Contest Plea
Cadden, who appeared in Livingston County court, located 65 miles northwest of Detroit, on Monday, pleaded no contest to eleven counts of involuntary manslaughter, one charge for each Michigan resident who died. Previously facing second-degree murder charges, Cadden reached a plea deal. For sentencing purposes, a no-contest plea carries the same weight as a guilty plea. Cadden is scheduled to return to court on April 18.
A Matter of Trust and Patient Safety
Attorney General Dana Nessel emphasized the importance of patient trust and the need for doctors to administer safe medications. Patients and doctors alike must have confidence that the drugs they rely on are free from harm. This case sheds light on the crucial role that pharmaceutical companies play in ensuring medication safety.
Responsibility and Apology
Cadden’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Back in 2017, during a federal court hearing in Boston, Barry Cadden shared a sentiment of regret, saying, “I am sorry for the whole range of suffering that resulted from my company’s drugs.” This acknowledgement reflects a level of responsibility for the immense suffering caused by the contamination.
Profit Prioritized Over Safety
Prosecutors in Boston have previously disclosed that New England Compounding Center engaged in questionable practices to maximize profits. These practices included neglecting proper room disinfection protocols, shipping drugs before receiving pending test results, and dismissing safety warnings about their protocols. Such profit-driven negligence led to catastrophic consequences.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
An additional criminal case remains pending against pharmacist Glenn Chin in Michigan. While Cadden and Chin were charged in Michigan in 2018, the progression of their cases has been slow due to separate federal prosecutions, appeals, and other complicating factors.
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